Monday, 23 September 2019 - Imphal Times

The first anniversary of Ayushman Bharat, world’s largest Government funded healthcare programme was celebrated with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh as the chief guest at the auditorium of JNIMS, Porompat in Imphal East District today. Ayushman Bharat was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this day last year with an aim to bring quality and affordable healthcare closer to the people of India. Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Minister urged the people of the State to avail the benefits provided under Ayushman Bharat, CMHT and other welfare schemes. He asked heads of different Government Hospitals and the Health Services Director to provide necessary assistance under Ayushman Bharat and CMHT without any delay to needy people whose stories are reported by different media houses. He also asked them to assign an official to monitor such reports every day.Maintaining that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a legendary figure, the Chief Minister said that he has conceptualised numerous welfare schemes with a vision to end the woes of poor and needy people of the country, and one among them is Ayushman Bharat. Owing to his phenomenal reforms, pragmatic management skills, sustainable plans and farsighted vision, the Prime Minister has now become one of the most popular leaders of the world, N. Biren said. People must be grateful to him for introducing such a noble healthcare programme, which would benefit crores of people, he added.Stating that facilities and services provided by JNIMS and RIMS had witnessed considerable improvement in the recent past, the Chief Minister informed that the State Government has been pressing the Centre to keep at least one AIIMS-standard medical institute in the State. He also thanked the private hospitals for supplementing the health care needs of the State. Observing that medical profession involves dedicated human service, the Chief Minister urged the doctors to behave with patients with utmost care and affection. The Chief Minister also mentioned about the need for upgrading facilities of neurosurgery care and treatment in Government hospitals as it usually requires huge amount of money.On the other hand, the Chief Minister also asked the DCs of different districts to issue a strict directive to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to visit every household while registering electors’ names. Any dereliction and irregularity on their part may lead to enlisting illegal migrants in the voters’ list, he cautioned.Speaking as the functional president, Health and Family Welfare Minister L. Jayantakumar said that Kakching District Hospital, Moreh Sub-Divisional Hospital, Sugnu CHC, Saikul CHC and Singjamei UPHSC would be added to the list of empanelled hospitals under Ayushman Bharat and CMHT soon. He also urged other private hospitals of the State to come forward and get empanelled under the two healthcare schemes. He also requested the private hospitals to make some sacrifice for the sake of the society and needy people no matter the equipments used by them are highly sophisticated and costly. Ayushman Bharat has two components, the first component being the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The second component is known as Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Health and Wellness Centres (PM-HWCs). The Government is planning to upgrade 1.5 lakh Sub-Centres to Health and Wellness Centres all over the country by 2022. The design of Health and Wellness Centres will include extensive use of information technology, improved infrastructure, multi-skilling of healthcare providers, ensured availability of drugs and supplies and strengthening of referral mechanisms and community linkages. In Manipur, 56 Primary Health Sub Centres, 6 Primary Health Centres and one Urban Primary Health Centre have been transformed into Health and Wellness Centre. Moreover, 220 Sub-Centres, 85 PHCs and 7 UPHCs have been identified to be transformed into Health and Wellness Centres. The dignitaries distributed cash incentives and certificates to best performing hospitals, Health and Wellness Centres, Common Service Centres and Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras at the function, jointly organised by State Health Agency, Manipur, National Health Mission, Manipur and Directorate of Health Services. Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on September 23, 2018. It provides cashless hospitalization benefit of up to Rs 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care. Those families which are included in the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 are eligible under AB-PMJAY. In Manipur, there are 14.08 lakh eligible beneficiaries from 2.77 lakh eligible families under AB-PMJAY out of which about 1.8 lakh beneficiaries have been verified and their PMJAY cards have been generated. About 6,245 instances of beneficiaries amounting to Rs. 10.9 crore have been provided treatment under AB-PMJAY so far. About 75,308 families have been enrolled under CMHT so far. There have been 15,114 instances of beneficiaries being provided treatment under CMHT amounting to Rs. 21.39 crore as of now. 16 hospitals in Manipur are empanelled under the two schemes, out of which 10 are Government hospitals and six are private hospitals. The empanelled Government Hospitals are RIMS, JNIMS, Wangoi CHC and District Hospitals of Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Tamenglong, Senapati, Chandel and Ukhrul. The six empanelled private hospitals are Sky Hospital and Research Centre, Raj Medicity, Jivan Hospital, Kakching, Iboyaima Hospital and Research Centre, Singjamei, Advanced Speciality Hospital and Research Institute, Palace Compound and Shija Hospital and Research Institute, Langol. Beneficiaries can avail treatment in any of these Hospitals according to their empanelled specialties.

Social Welfare Minister Nemcha Kipgen today inaugurated the One Stop Centre (OSC), Imphal West at Working Women Hostel (EEMA), HaobamMarak, ChingthamLeikai. It is the 6th One Stop Centre inaugurated in Manipur.Addressing the gatherings as Chief Guest, Minister NemchaKipgen stated the newly inaugurated OSC, Imphal West was opened under the directive of Ministry of Child and Welfare Development for the welfare of those women in distress or affected by any forms of violence in private and public places. The centre will facilitate an integrated range of services including medical, legal, rescue & response services, police services and psychological and social counselling support to women in distress.Nemcha further informed that the Ministry already approved for the launch of One Stop Centre in all the 16 (sixteen) Districts and the remaining Districtswill be inaugurated within October this year.Minister Nemcha appealed all stakeholders to extend maximum cooperation for the OSC to successfully deliver its tasks for the affected women and urged all to refer the centre for such women.It may be mentioned that NemchaKipgen already assured that “One Stop Centre (OSC) will be a reality in all the Districts during her spot visit in 2017 at Sakhi One Stop Centre, the 1st ever centre in the state, at Thoubal Mini Secretariat complex.The inauguration event organised by ImphalWest District Administration, was attended by ImphalWest, Deputy Commissioner, Shri N. Praveen Singh, Adhyaksha,ZillaParishad, ImphalWest, Smt. R.K. Taruni,and Social Welfare Director Ng.Uttam Singh as President and Guests of honour respectively.It was also attended by concerned officers and officials

The Naga Chiefs/Chairmen Association, 42 - Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency warned to impose bandh along a section of Imphal – Moreh Highway if the concerned authority fails to provide the misappropriated National Food Security Act (NSFA) rice within October 15.In a Press Statement signed by its General Secretary SK Angshel and President L. Moshil Maring, the Naga Chiefs/Chairmen Association 42 – Tengnoupal A/C stated that as several complaints were received from the beneficiaries of NFSA particularly from Machi and Tengnoupal Block, the Association enquired thoroughly and found that huge quantities of rice were misappropriated since 2016.In 2016, rice for 4 months only were distributed to the beneficiaries and the remaining were misappropriated by the agents. Likewise, rice for 5 months each in 2017 & 2018 and only for 6 months were distributed during 2019.Misappropriation of rice was done by two FPS agents of Machi - M. Mosingam and Tengnoupal Block - T. Angkhul in collaboration with DSO Chandel - Halim, Store Keeper - Mohendro Singh and contractors concerned, the Association alleged.The association further stated that 06 truckloads of rice for the beneficiaries of the said two block were released every month from FCI/FCS godown located at Sangaiprou,Imphal. But such huge quantities of rice were missing in between Imphal – Kakching Lamkhai and Tuishimi Village where it was unloaded for distribution to each Sub-Centres.While urging the concerned authority to provide the misappropriated quotas of rice within 15th October 2019, the Naga Chiefs/Chairmen Association also warned to launch agitation by imposing bandh along NH 102 (Imphal-Moreh road) with the support of all card holders/beneficiaries of NFSA.

Agricultural Spray Pump were distributed to farmers and later an interaction programme between farmers and agricultural scientists was organised to mark the occasion. ,More than 100 farmers including Village Chiefs and Pastors attended the workshop.

This has reference to your news publication “Irregularities in the Horticulture Dept A Class Contractual post engaged in Horticulture Dept by violating RR”. I would like to thank you and congratulate your esteemed agency for bringing out this news and fully agree with your views as in “When the state is facing acute shortage of Government employment with many eligible candidates looking restlessly for a job, such an attempt will be a great demotivation and encroachment of their rights to fair competition for gaining employment”.

This is not the first instance where corrupt practices have deprived many eligible candidates for different post. I would like to bring it to your kind notice one such recruitment drive where many eligible candidates have been deprived of the opportunity to apply for the post. The particular recruitment refers to the engagement of Assistant Registrar in Manipur University of Culture on contract basis.

The said advertisement was published in the first week of January, 2017 dated 2.1.2017. However, it is not clear how many news agencies were given this advertisement notification for publication. The last date of submission of the application form was 20th January, 2017. Just few days after the publication of the advertisement, on 5.1.2017 the Model Code of Conduct came into force (for 2017 Manipur Assembly Election). It is presumed that only some 17/18 candidates submitted their application before the Model Code Conduct was enforced.

As in normal practice, after the Model Code of Conduct is lifted, the advertisement should be re-advertised so as to enable other candidates to apply. However, this was never done. It is not even clear whether the present incumbents engaged in the contractual position of Assistant Registrar had also submitted their applications before the Model Code of Conduct came into force or after.

Hence, the news agency is requested to kindly investigate whether there is any anomalies/fault in the engagement of Assistant Registrar on contract basis at Manipur University of Culture.

Further, I would like to bring it to your kind notice that engaging persons on contract basis and then regularizing later has been banned by the Supreme Court of India as it deprives the eligible candidates for the post by initially discouraging them from applying as the advertisement says contract position. There is a ruling by the Apex Court in the matter.

The talk of the town nowadays is the new Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2019 and its resulting effect out here. It is good on the part of Manipur Government to enforce stringent traffic rules after the parliament passed the said Act. But cannot say how long this will be in effect, as such drive have happen many times in the past but for not long. The crackdown on commuters violating traffic rules is a commendable step owing to the alarming rise of accidents happening in the state. Also recently Breath Analyzer was distributed by Chief Minister N Biren to detect drunk driving in the state. It is ironic and amusing that such things are done in a dry state. A recent viral video on Social media shows a cop taking breathalyzer test of a person and can be seen saying his reading is far above the permissible level. What? Does this mean Manipur is no longer a dry state or is the state government planning to remove the Dry state status? With the recent stringent drives in different parts of the state cracking down on traffic violators, one cannot help thinking about the Diesel Autos plying in large number in the state. Don’t these Diesel autos fall under the purview of the new MVA Act and who gives the required permission to ply in the road as commercial vehicle? Or if so, what is the capacity of passenger in such Auto? Everyone knows these Diesel Autos are noisy and is way above the permissible level. Many experts have pointed out the ill effects of these Autos in the past and why is the authority still turning a blind eye to this nuisance? The authority has many places to look into other than cracking down on people driving without helmet or driving license. Footpath meant for pedestrians can be seen occupied with shop owners displaying their goods causing hindrance to commuters. Yeah, crackdown on such things happens once in a blue moon and that also for a short period of time only. Parking space is also a problem in the state, mainly in Imphal area. Competent Authority needs to come up with a viable and practical solution to the ever increasing Parking woes in the state. After all parking problems is also one of the many factors adding to the congestion in the city areas. If there are law enforcers, there will be law breakers too. For example, there were reports of having a Facebook page which updates about the location of Traffic police in the state and the ways to evade them. If the government is serious about the safety of the public, a little out of the box thinking is required. Instead of imposing heavy Challans on drivers without helmet or driving license, they can provide a helmet and License form on the spot against the fines collected from the drive. It doesn’t mean letting go a person without helmet after imposing a hefty fine is safe for that particular driver. Not just issuing challans and imposing fines to the public will be a lasting solution to the ever rising Traffic problems in the state. Traffic safety should not be left alone to the public, there are many ways the government can work to ensure traffic safety in the state. Oh yeah, if these current drive are for just namesake by the Government like we have seen in the past, then it is alright!!

State level Boxing Championship 2019 for Men and Women which begins from Sept. 17 concluded yesterday at Boxing Arena, Khuman Lampak sports complex. Around 300 boxers from across the state took participated the Championship organised by Manipur Amateur Boxing Association (MABA)

Team Imphal west District crowned overall team champion by earning 110 point , while Bishnupur Dist cornered runners up with 80 points.

Boxer Imphal west district player P. Kingson Singh won the junior men’s (2003-2004) title. M.Kishan was adjudged men’s best boxer at the championship while Samim Banu (54 kg) manage the title best boxer.

L.Edison Singh of Imphal west 54 kg and Chanringwon khaleng 48 kg from Urkhul district were named as most promising players.

RK. Dainty and RK. Paincy got Gold Medals at 1st Inter School Skating Championship 2019 held at Indirapuram Decathlon Habitat Centre , Uttar Pradesh.RK. Dainty and RK. Paincy got the Medals under 12 years and under 10 years Categories. They had also got many medals in different Skating events earlier. The Duo is the daughter of International Model and Social Activist Mayanglambam Diana.